Single contact plug



June 7, 1955 E. A. SPRIGG SINGLE CONTACT PLUG ig-l- Filed June 1, 1951 United States Patent Ufifice 2,710,385 Patented June 7, 1955 SINGLE CONTACT PLUG Edward A. Sprigg, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Breeze Corporations, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 1, 1951, Serial No. 229,348

3 Claims. (Cl. 339-61) This invention relates to a connector for electrical wiring, and specifically to a contact plug for use with a single contact and receptacle.

An object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector which will form a waterproof contact between two strands of wire.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector which may be assembled with a minimum amount of difiiculty.

A further object of this invention is to provide a connector which may be opened for inspection without the I requirement of special tools.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector which may be assembled in the field, as desired.

The invention consists of the construction, combina tion and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

Inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,

is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a complete embodiment of the present invention, in an assembled state.

Figure 2 is a somewhat exploded view of the electrical connector, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the assembled connector, in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, indicates a rubber or resilient male plug having a peripheral groove 11 spaced from one end thereof, and a central bore 12. The bore 12 is enlarged as shown at 13, for a hereinafter described purpose. The forward end of the plug 10 is provided with a projecting nub 14 which is concentrically located with relation to the central bore 12. A sleeve member 15 is adapted to be slipped upon the plug 10 from the direction opposite that of the nub 14. The sleeve member 15 is provided with an inwardly flared lip 16 which lip is receivable within the peripheral groove 11 of the plug 10. A bayonet slot 17, best shown in Figure 3, is provided in the sleeve member 15, and completes the construction of said sleeve.

A complementary rubber or resilient female plug 18 forms the central portion of the second part of the connector. The plug 18 is also provided with a central bore 19, having an enlarged portion 20 at the forward end thereof. The front of the plug 18 is recessed as indicated at 21, to receive the nub 14 of the complementary plug member. The plug 18 is provided with a peripheral groove 22 to receive therein the inwardly turned flange 23 of a sleeve member 24, carried upon the said plug 18. The sleeve member 24 is provided with a pin 25 normally disposed thereon, which pin is adapted to be engaged by the bayonet slot 17 of the larger sleeve member 15, for the purpose of locking and unlocking the connector while it is in use, when the sleeves are telescoped.

The ends of the electrical leads to be joined are each introduced into one of the contact members. The electrical lead, inserted within the female plug 18, is provided with a female contact member 26 on the end thereof. This contact member 26 may be slipped over the bared end of the wire 27 and swaged thereon, as indicated at 28 in Figure 2. The end of the lead carried in the male plug member is similarly provided with a male contact member 29.

In actual use the connector is assembled as follows: Suitable lengths of lead are cut and their ends bared'of insulation. The sleeve member 15 is slipped upon the lead and a male plug thereafter slipped upon the same lead, said lead being pulled through the central bore 12 in the manner shown in Figure 2. The male contact member 29 is slid over the end of the wire and swaged thereto. Thereafter the lead may be pulled back until the male contact plug 29 seats itself within the enlarged portion 13 of the bore 12, as indicated in Figure l.

The sleeve member 15 may then be forced forward over the plug 10 until the inwardly disposed flange 16 seats itself within the peripheral groove 11. A similar procedure is followed with the female portion of the connector, except that a female contact member 26 is em ployed on the end of the wire 27. When the connector is assembled, it is merely necessary to bring the complementary portions together, and engage the bayonet slot 17 with the pin 25 in order to provide the desired connection.

Disassembly is equally facilitated by the nature of the construction. The operation of the bayonet slot and pin on the two sleeves 15 and 24, forces the nub 14 into the recess 21 of the resilient plug member 18, so as to provide a waterproof seal at the point of electrical contact.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An electrical connector comprising, a resilient male plug, an annular groove spaced from one end of the male plug, said plug having a central bore therein, a nub integral with the plug, projecting from the front of the plug, a first sleeve member carried upon the outer forward portion of the male plug and projecting beyond the front of said plug, an inwardly disposed flange on the first sleeve member receivable within the annular groove, a wire receiving male contact member received within the bore of the male plug and projecting therefrom, a resilient female plug member having a central bore therein, a recess in the forward face of said plug adapted to receive the nub, an annular groove spaced from one end of the female plug, a second sleeve member carried upon the outer forward portion of the female plug, an inwardly disposed flange on the second sleeve receivable within the annular groove on the female plug, said second sleeve member having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the front sleeve member and adapted to be slid therein, a wire receiving female contact member received within the bore of the female plug and locking means carried by the sleeve members to hold the connector together when the contact members are joined.

2. An electrical connector comprising, a resilient male plug, said plug having a central bore therein, said bore having an enlarged portion at the forward end thereof, a first sleeve member carried upon the outer forward portion of the male plug and projecting beyond the front of said plug, a wire receiving male contact member received within the enlarged portion of the bore of the male plug and projecting therefrom, a resilient female plug member having a central bore therein, said bore having an enlarged portion at the forward end thereof, a

second sleeve member carried upon the outer forward portion of the female plug, said second sleeve member having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the first sleeve member and adapted to be slid therein, a wire receiving female contact member received within the enlarged portion of the bore of the female plug and locking means carried by the sleeve members to hold the connector together when the contact members are joined.

3. An electrical connector comprising, a resilient male plug, an annular groove spaced from one end of the male plug, said plug having a central bore therein, a nub integral with the plug, projecting from the front of the plug, said bore having an enlarged portion at the forward end thereof, a first sleeve member carried upon the outer forward portion of the male plug and projecting beyond the front of said plug, an inwardly disposed flange on the first sleeve member receivable within the annular groove, a wire receiving male contact member received within the enlarged portion of the bore of the male plug and projecting therefrom, a resilient female plug member having a central bore therein, a recess in the forward face of said plug adapted to receive the nub, an annular groove spaced from one end of the female plug,

said bore having an enlarged portion at the forward end thereof, a second sleeve member carried upon the outer forward portion of the female plug, an inwardly disposed flange on the second sleeve receivable within the annular groove on the female plug, said second sleeve member having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the first sleeve member and adapted to be slid therein, a wire receiving female contact member received within the enlarged portion of the bore of the female plug and locking means carried by the sleeve members to hold the connector together when the contact members are joined.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,817 Russell Oct. 25, 1910 1,190,525 Douglas July 11, 1916 1,512,815 Benjamin Oct. 21, 1925 1,981,460 Miller Nov. 20, 1934 2,059,008 Marquart Oct. 27, 1936 2,093,037 Douglas Sept. 14, 1937 2,284,945 Chandler June 2, 1942 2,379,942 Webber July 10, 1945 2,396,872 Miller et a1 Mar. 19, 1946 

